10 Authentic Irish Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day

There’s nothing like an traditional Irish recipe to bring delicious, comforting dish to the dining table. Whether celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with an authentic Irish recipe or making classic recipes everyday, this collection of Irish cooking is a great way to have a taste of the Emerald Isle.

Traditional Irish food is honest, simple and often rustic. The type of soul-warming food that is at the heart of the most satisfying comfort food.

The food is easy to prepare, never fussy and doesn’t demand slaving over the stove.

Irish recipes will give you the inspiration you need to create a delicious holiday meal for your family this year! Plus more Irish information on the holiday and food.

Just in time for the St. Patrick’s Day festivities, Irish recipes abound on the internet! These 10 authentic Irish recipes will give you the inspiration you need to create a delicious holiday meal for your family this year! 

We’ve thrown in a couple American ‘Irish’ favorites for the holiday too. Plus more Irish information on the holiday and food.

As St. Patrick’s Day approaches I love digging through Irish family recipes and those collected while traveling in Ireland for some authentic inspiration.

Ironically many of the foods we are familiar with in the U.S., such as Corned Beef and Cabbage or green beer, is something adapted in the U.S. and isn’t typically eaten for St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.

My friends in Ireland would rather linger over a pint of Guinness, laughing with friends and family at a pub, than over hours of meal preparation anyway!

I’ve pulled together a collection of real Irish recipes for you to consider both for St. Patrick’s Day as well as for everyday meals.

Some are from Boulder Locavore and come with anecdotes of my experiences of Ireland. Others I’ve gathered from authentic Irish sources I think you’ll love!

I think you’ll enjoy reading if, like me, you enjoy a bit of background on true holiday roots and customs.

St. Patrick’s Day festivities

Aiofe Cox, of the Dublin-based website The Daily Spud kindly wrote a Guest Post for Boulder Locavore about how St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in Ireland. Since the original post I believe some of the U.S. based shenanigan’s have worked their way over to Ireland’s traditionally more religious celebrations.

Traditional Irish Recipes

Starting with a full Irish breakfast, Irish scones, Guinness beef stew to black pudding, it’s hard to know where to start with wonderful Irish recipes.

Savory Cottage Pie

Ground beef, peas, carrots, onions cooked with savory seasonings topped with mashed potatoes and cheese.

Cooked in casserole form it’s great for a crowd.

A dear friend in the UK always rakes the fork over the mashed potatoes on top to look like a thatched roof of a cottage!

Savory Cottage Pie

Cottage Pie is a rustic savory pie with roots in Great Britain extending back to the 1700’s. Minced or ground beef combined with hearty vegetables cooked to form a creamy gravy, baked topped with mashed potatoes and cheese. 

Check out this recipe

Irish Potato Soup

Just what you’d hope it to be; potatoes, onions, stock and milk creating a thick satisfying soup from only a handful of ingredients!

Irish Potato Soup

This simple, food is true Irish comfort food. A few ingredients come together to form a perfect cold-weather dish. Light stock should be used in this soup and it is fantastic with homemade ham stock.

Check out this recipe

Irish Soda Bread

This recipe was given to me on a trip to Ireland many years ago. It’s easy rustic bread and can be made with regular or gluten-free flour.

Modifications are included to make Brown Soda Bread (Wheaten bread) and Spotted Dick too.

Traditional Irish Soda Bread

This authentic recipe for Irish Soda Bread is a simple, rustic bread that's easy to make with either regular or gluten-free flour. It's a quick bread recipe requiring no yeast for rising.

Check out this recipe

Authentic Irish Coffee

A definite ‘must’ when in Ireland.

It is sure to take the edge of any cold, damp weather with coffee, Irish Whiskey and a cream float on top.

Authentic Irish Coffee recipe

Irish Coffee is a wonderful after dinner cocktail combining strong coffee and Irish whiskey. Adding a cream float on top caps it off.

Check out this recipe

Irish Potato Champ

Potatoes, butter, scallions, milk. You’ll never guess the holiday when Champ is usually served!

Irish Potato Champ

This simple, rustic version of mashed potatoes has a sweet springy flavor from the scallions steeped in milk. It is a satisfying dish on its own or paired with any protein.

Check out this recipe

Authentic Irish Colcannon

Another fantastic spud recipe this time with curly kale along with mashed potatoes and scallions. Simple ingredients, irresistible recipe.

Authentic Irish Colcannon

Colcannon is a traditional dish for St. Patrick’s Day, combining the beloved potato, kale, scallions and butter. Try it once and you’ll be hooked!

Check out this recipe

Dublin Coddle

A warming dish of bacon, sausage, onions and potatoes. I served it with Traditional Soda Bread!

Authentic Irish Dublin Coddle

Dublin Coddle is a hearty, satisfying dish made up of only a handful of wholesome ingredients. This authentic Irish recipe is one I picked up in Dublin from a pub owner. It's easy and delicious.

Check out this recipe

More Authentic Irish Recipes

Boxty from Irish Central

Boxty is a traditional potato pancake made with a combination of mashed and grated potato for a lovely texture.

Irish Potato Boxty (potato cakes)

Boxty is the perfect solution for leftover mashed potatoes and is sure to put a smile on any Irish person's face! Recipe and image from Irish Central.

Check out this recipe

Irish Stew

No list would be complete without a recipe, or two in this case, for Irish Stew.

Donal Skehan is a well-known Irish cookbook author and TV personae. He periodically makes appearances on the Today Show and you may have seen him there.

His website is full of Irish recipes and gorgeous photography. His recipe of Angie’s Skehan Family Irish Stew looks fantastic.

Irish Stew

Authentic Irish Stew from Donal Skehan

Check out this recipe

Barmbrack (Irish Tea Cake)

For another delicious bread recipe try this Barmbrack. It’s a classic!

Barmbrack (Irish Tea Cake)

Irish tea cake surely epitomizes traditional Irish baking, and indeed Irish dishes generally. Why so? Its simplicity. Quick and easy to make, this Irish cake is yet another no-nonsense-abiding creature from fair old Erin’s Isle – and even simpler than Irish apple cake. – Irish Buzz

Check out this recipe

Black Forest Gataeu

If you are interested in Irish food, there is no more authentic cookbook than Irish Country Cooking from the Irishwomen’s Association. I did a cookbook review when it first came out and was instantly in love with the contributor’s short bio’s and of course the authentic recipes. It’s really a treasure. Don’t miss this Black Forest Gateau recipe as an example of traditional Irish desserts!

Black Forest Gateau

“This easy cake is a favorite with all the family and makes a delicious treat for parties and gatherings, especially if you go the full mile and decorate with chocolate and crushed biscuits (cookies). We love to use Polo biscuits but you can use your personal favorites”. – Claire Ann McDonnell, Wicklow: Loves Gardening and The Country Air {Irish Country Cooking, Sterling Epicure}

Check out this recipe

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Despite the earlier caveat about Corned Beef and Cabbage NOT being authentic St. Patrick’s Day food, I’ll insert my Slow Cooker Beer-Simmered Corned Beef and Vegetables recipe for those who  want to make it!

Slow Cooker Beer-Simmered Corned Beef and Vegetables

The quintessential American food to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, this method of cooking Corned Beef yields a succulent, flavor-packed end result perfect to celebrate any day. The recipe takes about 24 hours between soaking the brined corned beef and cooking it in the slow cooker but it requires little effort from the cook. After cooking it can be refrigerated overnight for easier trimming of the fat and if choosing to do so should be stored in a sealed container with some of the cooking liquid.

Check out this recipe

I have Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket too (made with Guinness).

Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket Recipe

Cooking a corned beef brisket in the Instant Pot yields a supple, flavorful brisket with no effort. The beer tenderizes and flavors the brisket. The vegetables cook in a flash!

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Mini Beef Pot Pies with an Irish Twist

Mini Beef Pot Pies with an Irish Twist

These muffin tin Beef Pot Pies are a mouthwatering main dish in a cute little package. Flaky crust filled with long simmering beef and vegetable filling includes Guinness beer (subsitutions included) giving a taste of Ireland in every bite.

Check out this recipe

Don’t forget to wear your lucky St. Patrick’s Day shirt!

Need some gluten-free St. Patrick’s Day recipe ideas? Gottcha covered. Also for non-traditional but still completely delicious food and drink recipes this St. Patrick’s Day recipe collection will be something you’ll want to see.